Free-range kids picked up AGAIN by police

[Anonymous]

Maybe the parents are in the spectrum?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

They have managed to provoke police, CPS, and the school all looking for a reaction and attention when instead of starting unnecessary wars they should be supervising their kids. She can easily take a laptop and do her writing and internet posting from a park bench.

Gotta love parents telling other parents how to raise their kids.

I think next time I am at the park, I am going to go up to the helicopter that follows their kid around 1 foot away the whole time and tell them what I think.

Please do. If you are the lazy one sitting on the bench while your kid comes up to us asking to help them, play with them, etc. we'd be happy to tell you what we think as well. Some parents actually engage and play with their kids and assist them on things they need help with. We get so tired of being free babysitters and will happily tell you to play with your own kid. If we sit for a few minutes, our kids ask us to come play.

I am not there on the bench anymore. My kids are 5, 10, and 13 and go to the park on their own. And even if I was with them they sure aren't asking other people's parents to play with them. They wonder why they can't play with kids without their parents tagging along structuring their free time at the park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

They have managed to provoke police, CPS, and the school all looking for a reaction and attention when instead of starting unnecessary wars they should be supervising their kids. She can easily take a laptop and do her writing and internet posting from a park bench.

Gotta love parents telling other parents how to raise their kids.

I think next time I am at the park, I am going to go up to the helicopter that follows their kid around 1 foot away the whole time and tell them what I think.

Please do. If you are the lazy one sitting on the bench while your kid comes up to us asking to help them, play with them, etc. we'd be happy to tell you what we think as well. Some parents actually engage and play with their kids and assist them on things they need help with. We get so tired of being free babysitters and will happily tell you to play with your own kid. If we sit for a few minutes, our kids ask us to come play.

I am not there on the bench anymore. My kids are 5, 10, and 13 and go to the park on their own. And even if I was with them they sure aren't asking other people's parents to play with them. They wonder why they can't play with kids without their parents tagging along structuring their free time at the park.

I tag along to make sure my kid behaves. Teaching manners and all that. The worst-behaved kids are the ones with no parents around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the parents are in the spectrum?

Even if they are they are high functioning enough to know better. This has nothing to do with autism. Not sure why that gets the blame for everything now.

[Anonymous]

So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

They have managed to provoke police, CPS, and the school all looking for a reaction and attention when instead of starting unnecessary wars they should be supervising their kids. She can easily take a laptop and do her writing and internet posting from a park bench.

Gotta love parents telling other parents how to raise their kids.

I think next time I am at the park, I am going to go up to the helicopter that follows their kid around 1 foot away the whole time and tell them what I think.

Please do. If you are the lazy one sitting on the bench while your kid comes up to us asking to help them, play with them, etc. we'd be happy to tell you what we think as well. Some parents actually engage and play with their kids and assist them on things they need help with. We get so tired of being free babysitters and will happily tell you to play with your own kid. If we sit for a few minutes, our kids ask us to come play.

I am not there on the bench anymore. My kids are 5, 10, and 13 and go to the park on their own. And even if I was with them they sure aren't asking other people's parents to play with them. They wonder why they can't play with kids without their parents tagging along structuring their free time at the park.

There is a difference with a 13 year old taking a 5 year old vs a 10 year old. Parents who supervise are not structuring kids free time anymore than parents who prefer to be lazy and not supervise. Your five year old may need help with the bigger equipment and if your older kids are occupied with their own thing, yes, it is possible they are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, the regulation says that kids under a certain age can't be indoors or in a car on their own, but they can be outside without adult supervision? And it doesn't matter how far the kids are from a parent or adult supervisor of some type?

So, if my babysitter calls in sick at the last minute and I need to go to work, if I send the kids to the park, I'm okay? I don't need to be within any particular radius, and as long as they stay outside all day, that's acceptable?

How old are your children? Too young for elementary school, presumably.

If you leave a child 8 years or younger at home alone, and the school learns about it, DFCS will be contacted by school personnel in most states.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I am not there on the bench anymore. My kids are 5, 10, and 13 and go to the park on their own. And even if I was with them they sure aren't asking other people's parents to play with them. They wonder why they can't play with kids without their parents tagging along structuring their free time at the park.

There is a difference with a 13 year old taking a 5 year old vs a 10 year old. Parents who supervise are not structuring kids free time anymore than parents who prefer to be lazy and not supervise. Your five year old may need help with the bigger equipment and if your older kids are occupied with their own thing, yes, it is possible they are.

Of course they are. That's the whole reason you go -- to have control over the situation. Now, this may be good, or this may be bad, but either way, it's control.

By the way, when did "lazy parent" get to be the big insult? It used to be absolutely fine for parents to tell children to go outside and play by themselves. Now you're lazy unless you're constantly there ready to solve any problem your child might encounter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Common sense is to let parents decide how much supervision their kids need -- absent child neglect, which this isn't.

It absolutely is neglect for the 6 year old. That is not common sense. So, since my kid can give you driving directions or which bus to take to somewhere, should I allow my six year old to go where ever he wants because he can? He's more accurate than our GPS sometimes.

Of course you shouldn't allow your six-year-old to go wherever he wants because he can. You should allow your six-year-old to go places you think he's ready to go, in ways you think he's ready for. Just as the Meitivs are trying to do.

"Trying" can still equate to poor judgment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Because kids have needs. They need supervision, they need help with things, etc. We get so tired of going to the playground having kids insisting on us playing with them, entertaining them, trying to eat our snacks (sorry, no, not without parents permission and bring your own), and insisting we lift them, push them on the swing, try to ride our bikes, scooters. We aren't lifting or touching another child except in an emergency - not taking the risk of being accused of something. Most parents who are at the park are so checked out and have no clue or don't care what their kids are doing. It always amazes us.

Yes, all kids have needs. In fact, all human beings have needs. That doesn't mean that all kids (aged 0-17) need equal levels of supervision and equal help with the same things. At some point, kids are able to go to the park by themselves. The question is, when?

Not at age 6.

Says who? You? So what. For others it could be okay. Not all parents are alike. Not all kids are alike. That is why government should not interfere.

And by the way, I was 6 and walked home from school everyday.

So happy for you and your parents that nothing happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If you leave a child 8 years or younger at home alone, and the school learns about it, DFCS will be contacted by school personnel in most states.

I know what the law is in Maryland, namely:

Family Law §5–801.

(a) A person who is charged with the care of a child under the age of 8 years may not allow the child to be locked or confined in a dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle while the person charged is absent and the dwelling, building, enclosure, or motor vehicle is out of the sight of the person charged unless the person charged provides a reliable person at least 13 years old to remain with the child to protect the child.

What other states have laws, and what are those laws?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes 130 pages for someone to mention that the mom isn't a scientist or whatever she's been portrayed in the news but a writer of (bad) erotic fiction?!?!?! Somehow that just makes the whole story that much more ridiculous. (The ridiculous part being that they have managed to provoke a massive amount of press around a nonexistent threat from overbearing police, CPS, school secretaries and others....)

They have managed to provoke police, CPS, and the school all looking for a reaction and attention when instead of starting unnecessary wars they should be supervising their kids. She can easily take a laptop and do her writing and internet posting from a park bench.

But why should she, when the kids don't need supervision?

Would you be okay if first grade teachers remained inside their classrooms while their students play in the playground area unsupervised?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Says who? You? So what. For others it could be okay. Not all parents are alike. Not all kids are alike. That is why government should not interfere.

And by the way, I was 6 and walked home from school everyday.

So happy for you and your parents that nothing happened.

In general, for most people, nothing happened. For some people, something did happen, and if it happened to you, I'm sorry. But we don't usually make an action illegal on grounds that, very rarely, bad things happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Would you be okay if first grade teachers remained inside their classrooms while their students play in the playground area unsupervised?

The first-grade teachers actually do remain inside their classrooms (or eat lunch, or have meetings), in my children's school system.